Dust Events Linked To 20% Loss In Solar Energy Output In Cyprus

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 26, 2026

A recent study by the Cyprus Institute found that intense dust episodes can reduce solar irradiance by 20% or more across photovoltaic systems in Cyprus. The impact is especially visible on clear, sunny days, when energy production is typically expected to reach peak levels.

Key Findings And Implications For Renewable Energy

Researchers found that the largest losses occur during bright, cloud-free conditions, when photovoltaic systems usually generate maximum output. By separating the impact of dust from cloud cover, the study shows that dust events can cause sudden and difficult-to-predict drops in energy production.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

These fluctuations create additional pressure on grid operators, who must balance supply and demand in real time while maintaining system stability.

Advanced Methodology And Data-Driven Insights

Using a machine learning model, the research team analyzed more than 1.6 million hourly measurements collected from 472 photovoltaic installations across Cyprus. This data-driven approach allowed researchers to identify when dust storms affect energy output and how severe those losses can be.

The findings provide a stronger foundation for forecasting models in regions where dust events are frequent, helping operators prepare for short-term declines in production.

Strategic Collaboration And Regional Impact

The investigation was conducted as part of the PV DUST research initiative, a collaborative effort between the Cyprus Institute, the Cyprus University of Technology, and key industry partners. Supported by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility through the Research and Innovation Foundation (COM-CONCEPT-ENERGY/0624/0159), the study’s insights are especially relevant for Cyprus, a country that continues to invest heavily in solar energy while regularly facing dust-related challenges.

Expert Insights

Dr. Theodoros Christoudias, Associate Professor at the Centre of Excellence for Climate and Atmospheric Research (CARE-C) at the Cyprus Institute, said in an interview that dust remains one of the most significant barriers to stable solar energy production in the Mediterranean region.

By quantifying hourly energy losses under real operating conditions, the research gives solar operators clearer visibility into potential drops in output, helping them respond faster and support grid stability.

The study highlights the operational challenges of integrating renewable energy into national grids while offering practical insights that can improve energy management in climates affected by frequent dust events.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Women Make Up A Majority Of The EU’s Science And Technology Workforce But The Real Gap Is Elsewhere

by News Editor

June 25, 2026

Women now make up the majority of the EU’s science and technology workforce. According to Eurostat, in 2025, more than 81.6 million people aged 15 to 74 were employed in science and technology occupations across the EU. Of those, 52.5% were women, equal to 42.8 million women. The number of women in these occupations rose by 27.9% compared with 2015, an increase of more than 9.3 million over a decade.

On the surface, the numbers resemble progress. However, Eurostat’s category requires context before that figure can be read accurately. The data refers to HRST, or Human Resources in Science and Technology, specifically people employed in science and technology occupations. These are roles where the main tasks require professional or technical knowledge in physical and life sciences, but also in social sciences and humanities. That definition is wider and broader than engineering, ICT, laboratory science, or high-tech research alone.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Zooming In

The gender picture changes once the data moves from a wider definition of the workforce to the narrower scientist-and-engineer (research and manufacturing) subgroup.

Scientists and engineers represented almost a quarter of all people employed in science and technology in the EU in 2025. Eurostat describes scientists and engineers as often being the innovators at the centre of technology-led development, making them an important subgroup to focus on separately.

Women accounted for only 40.8% of scientists and engineers in 2025, despite making up more than half of the wider category. That share has increased by a mere 0.5 percentage points over the past decade. The absolute number of women working as scientists and engineers rose from 5.3 million in 2015 to 8.2 million in 2025, despite the push from national and international organisations to increase the number of women in the field. Europe has expanded the number of women in science and technology occupations over ten years. However, that expansion has not extended equally into the scientist-and-engineer subgroup, where much of Europe’s research and innovation work is conducted.

In 2025, of the 39.4 million women aged 25 to 64 working in science and technology occupations in the EU, 35.5 million worked in service activities. Only 2.7 million worked in manufacturing. Women accounted for 57.5% of science and technology employment in services, but only 31.3% in manufacturing.

In 2025, the highest shares of women employed in science and technology occupations were recorded in Latvia at 62.4%, followed by Hungary’s Great Plain and North region at 61.1%, Estonia at 60.5%, Poland’s Central macroregion at 60.4%, and Lithuania at 60.3%. No EU country recorded a majority of women among science and technology workers in manufacturing.

Break-down

Eurostat’s figures measure employment in broad science and technology occupations. They do not show job security, pay levels, management roles, promotion rates, research leadership, or whether women are concentrated in junior or senior workplace positions.

The classification of “senior” also requires additional explanation. Eurostat reports that 45.9% of science and technology workers aged 25 to 64 in the EU were classified as “senior” HRST in 2025. In this dataset, “senior” refers to workers aged 45 to 64. It does not mean senior manager, senior researcher, team lead, or decision-maker.

A high female share in the wider Human Resource Science and Technology (HRST) category does not parallel equal representation across scientists, engineers, manufacturing roles, senior posts, pay, research funding, or decision-making. These figures also reflect the occupational mix inside each country or region, not only structural progress across all areas of science and technology.

The Case Of Cyprus

Eurostat data places Cyprus’s overall science and technology employment at 37.2% of the labour force in 2025, slightly above the EU-27 figure of 36.9%, and above Greece at 26.8%, Malta at 33.9%, and Turkey at 18.2%. This figure covers the total share of the labour force employed in science and technology across all genders.

Progress Or Work-in-Progress?

52.5% in the broad category. 40.8% among scientists and engineers. 31.3% in manufacturing. Europe’s gender gap in science and technology hasn’t closed yet, and there is still work to be done to encourage and support more women to enter the field, especially in research and manufacturing.

Let’s not wait another decade for another couple of percentage points of hope.

Breaking news